Amaze vs YouTrip vs Wise - Singapore multi-currency cards comparison (2023)

Trying to decide on the best multi-currency spending option from Amaze®¹ vs YouTrip®² vs Wise? This guide has you covered.

We’ll walk through a full Amaze (Instarem) vs YouTrip, and Amaze vs Wise comparison, looking at features, fees, exchange rate and more. Compare all three services to see which might suit you best next time you take a trip overseas or whenever you’re shopping online in foreign currencies.

Table of contents
Amaze vs YouTrip vs Wise - Overview of benefits Fees and charges comparison Comparing exchange rates Summary: Which should you pick?

Amaze (Instarem) vs YouTrip vs Wise - Overview of benefits

If you’re interested in either Amaze by Instarem, or Wise, as a YouTrip competitor for spending internationally with a convenient card, you’re in the right place. We’ll look at each card and provider in detail in a moment, but to start us off, let’s get an overview of how the 3 providers measure up.

Here are some of the key Amaze vs YouTrip vs Wise features, side by side:

	Amaze	YouTrip	Wise
Eligibility	Residents of select countries including Singapore	Residents of select countries including Singapore	Available globally in all but a few countries⁸
Account maintenance fees	None	None	None
Freezing card	Freeze in app or online	Freeze in app or online	Freeze in app or online
Overseas ATM fees	2%	400 SGD/month fee free, 2% after that	Up to 2 withdrawals per month, to 350 SGD in value, fee free⁶ 1.50 SGD + 1.75% after that
Currency exchange fees	No specific fee, exchange with Instarem or network rates, depending on how you fund the transaction	No specific fee, exchange with Mastercard rates	Exchange with mid-market rates and low fees based on currency from 0.43%
Local SGD payment fee	2% fee for some local card transactions	No fee	No fee
Overseas payment fees	Send to 60+ countries - fees varied depending on destination and currencies involved	Send payments in 10 supported currencies to other YouTrip accounts for free	Send to 160+ countries, fees based on currency - from 0.43%
Available currencies for holding and exchange	10	10	40+ currencies
Available currencies/countries for card spending	150+ currencies	150+ currencies	160+ countries
Interest earning features available	No	No	Yes - Wise Interest available
Business account available?	Yes	No	Yes - in a broad range of countries globally

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

What is Amaze by Instarem?

Amaze by Instarem is a digital wallet to allow you to either top up a balance or to link up to 5 different payment cards to pay and make overseas cash withdrawals conveniently with your Amaze card. If you choose to use the holding facility you can top up Amaze in SGD and then convert to any of the 10 different supported currencies for in person and online spending.

Amaze cards also offer some cashback and rewards earning opportunities depending on how you use your card, which can mean your money goes further.

Learn more about Amaze here in our full review!

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What is YouTrip?

YouTrip is a digital wallet and card available to people in Singapore. You can hold any of 10 supported currencies in your YouTrip account, and spend conveniently with the YouTrip card in person and online. You can also make overseas ATM withdrawals - with up to 400 SGD fee free every month, and fees of 2% after that.

There’s no fee to apply for a YouTrip card, and very few other transaction fees to worry about, making this a handy option for people who want a secure and convenient way to spend when travelling.

Learn more about YouTrip card from our full card review!

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What is Wise (formerly TransferWise)?

Wise offers a multi-currency digital account to hold 40+ currencies, with a linked card you can use to spend in 150+ countries. You’ll also be able to send payments to 160+ countries and get paid to your Wise account in 9 currencies with local bank details.

Wise stands out because all currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate. Whenever you need to switch currencies to send a payment, make a cash withdrawal or spend in person or online, you get the mid-market rate and low fees for 0.43%⁷. If you’re spending a currency you hold in your account already there’s no Wise fee at all.

Learn more about Wise card's benefits in Singapore here 👀

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Amaze vs YouTrip vs Wise - Fees and charges

The services on offer from Amaze, YouTrip and Wise are all slightly different - and the fee structures are different too. It’s important to check out the full fee schedule for any provider you’re interested in before you sign up, so there are no surprises when you start to use your account and card.

Here’s a quick overview of the key costs involved in using the 3 different multi-currency digital accounts and cards:

	Amaze¹	YouTrip³	Wise
Account maintenance fees	None	None	None
Top up fee	1.5% for Visa cards; free for most other payment methods	Up to 1.5% from credit cards Free by debit card or PayNow from Singapore banks	Free to add funds in a range of currencies with local bank details
Card delivery fee	None specified	10 SGD	9 SGD for first Wise card
International ATM fees	2%	400 SGD/month fee free, 2% after that⁴	Up to 2 withdrawals per month, to 350 SGD in value, fee free⁶ 1.50 SGD + 1.75% after that
Singapore ATM fees	Not available	Not available	Not available
Currency exchange fees	No specific fee, exchange with Instarem or network rates, depending on how you fund the transaction	No specific fee, exchange with Mastercard rates	Exchange with mid-market rates and low fees based on currency from 0.43%
Overseas payment fees	Send to 60+ countries - fees varied depending on destination and currencies involved	Available for 10 holding currencies with YouTrip Send - fees available in app only⁵	Send to 160+ countries, fees based on currency - from 0.43%

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

Comparing exchange rates

Amaze, YouTrip and Wise all offer multi-currency features - which means understanding the exchange rate that’ll be used to convert from SGD to any other supported currency is important. Get a bad rate and you could find you’re spending more that you realise - every time you shop, withdraw and spend.

Different providers and card networks set their own exchange rates for any currency conversion that’s needed to process a transaction. Sometimes these rates are easy to understand and easy to find - sometimes they’re not.

• If you need currency conversion with Amaze/Instarem, you’ll get the Instarem exchange rate which they state includes a minimal markup, which can mean it offers better value than a bank.
• When you exchange currencies with YouTrip to hold the funds in your wallet, you’ll get the YouTrip exchange rate which may include a small markup. When you spend with a linked card in a foreign currency, the network rate will apply.
• Wise works a bit differently in that it uses the mid-market exchange rate to convert funds whenever you need to send a payment or spend in a currency you don’t hold in your account. There’s then a fee, which is clearly split out for transparency, which varies by currency and can be as low as 0.43%⁷.

To work out which provider has the best exchange rate for the currencies you need to use, you’d have to compare all 3. Wise has a clear currency converter tool available online and in the Wise app, as does Instarem. With YouTrip the easiest way to see the currency exchange rates that apply is to download the app and register a free account.

Generally, all 3 cards offer pretty fair exchange rates which can present better value than spending with a bank which applies a foreign transaction fee when you spend abroad. However, choosing a provider which uses the mid-market rate - like Wise - can mean the costs are more transparent and easy to spot.

Summary: Which should you pick in Singapore?

Whether you’re just starting to shop around for better ways to pay when you travel, looking for a good YouTrip alternative for your next holiday, or need a way to hold, exchange, send, spend and receive multiple currencies in the same account, you’ll find what you need in Singapore.

When it comes to Amaze vs YouTrip vs Wise the best one for you might simply come down to the types of transactions you make and your personal preferences.

Amaze offers some great ways to earn cashback and rewards, and has both the option to hold funds in your account or to simply link payment cards.

YouTrip is an established and trusted provider in Singapore, with very few fees to worry about.

And Wise can be good for anyone who needs a multi-currency account that can do more. You’ll be able to hold 40+ currencies and get paid in 9 currencies with local bank details. You’ll also have access to the Wise international debit card for convenient spending and withdrawals when you travel, with low fees and the mid-market rate every time.

Use this guide to weigh up all 3 options and see which might suit your specific needs best.

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Sources:

1. Amaze
2. YouTrip Singapore
3. YouTrip fees
4. YouTrip ATM fees
5. YouTrip - send money
6. Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.
7. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.
8. Some products may be unavailable if you’re signing up outside Singapore. Find out from our help centre whether your region is supported for holding money and if you’re eligible for the Wise card

Sources checked on 26/07/2023